Survey year | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 14% | 19% | 1% | 58% | 8% | 5,262 |
2007 | 18% | 22% | 2% | 48% | 11% | 5,886 |
Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God
Interpreting scripture among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by religious group
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who say the holy scripture is…
Religious tradition | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 18% | 27% | 1% | 45% | 8% | 963 |
Evangelical Protestant | 33% | 38% | 2% | 22% | 6% | 511 |
Historically Black Protestant | 53% | 21% | 1% | 17% | 9% | 136 |
Jewish | 7% | 15% | 1% | 69% | 9% | 235 |
Mainline Protestant | 14% | 29% | 2% | 46% | 9% | 778 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 6% | 10% | < 1% | 76% | 7% | 2,348 |
Learn More: Word of God; should be taken literally, Word of God; not everything taken literally, Not the word of God
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who are ages…
Interpreting scripture | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 16% | 35% | 32% | 17% | 586 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 27% | 31% | 25% | 17% | 943 |
Not the word of God | 30% | 34% | 21% | 15% | 3,176 |
Other/don't know | 18% | 36% | 25% | 21% | 412 |
Generational cohort among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who are…
Interpreting scripture | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 11% | 12% | 28% | 35% | 13% | 1% | 586 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 17% | 16% | 25% | 29% | 12% | 1% | 943 |
Not the word of God | 19% | 18% | 27% | 26% | 9% | 1% | 3,176 |
Other/don't know | 10% | 14% | 30% | 30% | 13% | 3% | 412 |
Gender composition among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who are…
Interpreting scripture | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 57% | 43% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 56% | 44% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 66% | 34% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 59% | 41% | 424 |
Racial and ethnic composition among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who identify as…
Interpreting scripture | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 52% | 21% | 2% | 21% | 4% | 594 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 72% | 8% | 3% | 14% | 3% | 945 |
Not the word of God | 77% | 4% | 6% | 10% | 3% | 3,186 |
Other/don't know | 73% | 6% | 4% | 12% | 5% | 414 |
Immigrant status among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who are…
Interpreting scripture | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 17% | 9% | 74% | 577 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 11% | 13% | 76% | 942 |
Not the word of God | 12% | 14% | 75% | 3,183 |
Other/don't know | 13% | 9% | 77% | 416 |
Income distribution among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who have a household income of…
Interpreting scripture | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 57% | 22% | 13% | 7% | 498 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 38% | 23% | 24% | 15% | 832 |
Not the word of God | 30% | 19% | 29% | 22% | 2,899 |
Other/don't know | 44% | 17% | 22% | 17% | 337 |
Educational distribution among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who have completed…
Interpreting scripture | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 73% | 19% | 6% | 2% | 589 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 55% | 30% | 10% | 6% | 954 |
Not the word of God | 38% | 31% | 18% | 13% | 3,210 |
Other/don't know | 46% | 34% | 13% | 7% | 421 |
Marital status among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who are…
Interpreting scripture | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 38% | 9% | 17% | 9% | 28% | 594 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 41% | 8% | 15% | 7% | 29% | 952 |
Not the word of God | 40% | 10% | 11% | 4% | 34% | 3,204 |
Other/don't know | 42% | 8% | 14% | 9% | 26% | 417 |
Parent of children under 18 among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who are…
Interpreting scripture | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 28% | 72% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 28% | 72% | 953 |
Not the word of God | 24% | 76% | 3,207 |
Other/don't know | 28% | 72% | 420 |
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who say they…
Interpreting scripture | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 70% | 22% | 6% | 2% | 1% | < 1% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 50% | 38% | 7% | < 1% | 3% | 1% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 13% | 24% | 16% | < 1% | 41% | 6% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 35% | 27% | 11% | 2% | 14% | 11% | 424 |
Importance of religion in one's life among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who say religion is…
Interpreting scripture | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 54% | 34% | 7% | 4% | 1% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 28% | 50% | 17% | 5% | < 1% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 6% | 23% | 30% | 41% | < 1% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 20% | 38% | 22% | 20% | 1% | 424 |
Attendance at religious services among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who attend religious services…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 28% | 34% | 37% | < 1% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 17% | 43% | 40% | < 1% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 4% | 24% | 73% | < 1% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 7% | 34% | 57% | 1% | 424 |
Frequency of prayer among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who pray…
Interpreting scripture | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 47% | 21% | 8% | 23% | 1% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 32% | 21% | 12% | 34% | 1% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 9% | 8% | 7% | 76% | < 1% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 22% | 14% | 9% | 51% | 4% | 424 |
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who attend prayer group…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 17% | 7% | 7% | 69% | < 1% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 10% | 5% | 6% | 79% | < 1% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 1% | 1% | 3% | 95% | < 1% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 4% | 5% | 3% | 87% | 1% | 424 |
Frequency of meditation among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who meditate…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 25% | 5% | 2% | 65% | 3% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 16% | 5% | 4% | 74% | 1% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 12% | 6% | 4% | 78% | 1% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 16% | 6% | 3% | 74% | 2% | 424 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 21% | 7% | 11% | 59% | 2% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 22% | 9% | 12% | 56% | 1% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 30% | 15% | 16% | 38% | < 1% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 26% | 12% | 12% | 47% | 3% | 424 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Interpreting scripture | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 33% | 9% | 47% | 9% | 2% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 18% | 9% | 63% | 9% | 2% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 3% | 15% | 62% | 19% | 1% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 8% | 12% | 62% | 12% | 6% | 424 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who say…
Interpreting scripture | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 28% | 68% | 2% | 2% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 28% | 72% | < 1% | < 1% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 20% | 78% | 1% | 1% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 20% | 74% | 4% | 3% | 424 |
Frequency of reading scripture among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who read scripture…
Interpreting scripture | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 25% | 10% | 6% | 58% | 1% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 11% | 8% | 8% | 73% | < 1% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 2% | 2% | 5% | 90% | < 1% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 8% | 7% | 6% | 77% | 1% | 424 |
Belief in Heaven among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who …in heaven
Interpreting scripture | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 91% | 7% | 2% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 82% | 12% | 6% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 31% | 60% | 9% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 49% | 26% | 25% | 424 |
Belief in Hell among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who …in hell
Interpreting scripture | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 77% | 17% | 6% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 64% | 29% | 7% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 22% | 70% | 8% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 35% | 40% | 24% | 424 |
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who identify as…
Interpreting scripture | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 33% | 23% | 44% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 38% | 20% | 42% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 29% | 19% | 53% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 28% | 33% | 39% | 424 |
Political ideology among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who are…
Interpreting scripture | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 35% | 28% | 24% | 14% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 34% | 39% | 22% | 6% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 19% | 35% | 38% | 7% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 29% | 35% | 21% | 15% | 424 |
Views about size of government among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who would rather have…
Interpreting scripture | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 36% | 58% | 2% | 4% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 54% | 43% | 1% | 2% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 52% | 42% | 3% | 3% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 50% | 33% | 8% | 10% | 424 |
Views about government aid to the poor among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who say government aid to the poor…
Interpreting scripture | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 47% | 46% | 3% | 4% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 48% | 48% | 2% | 2% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 39% | 57% | 3% | 1% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 39% | 48% | 8% | 6% | 424 |
Views about abortion among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who say abortion should be…
Interpreting scripture | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 40% | 54% | 6% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 58% | 40% | 2% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 79% | 18% | 3% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 61% | 26% | 13% | 424 |
Views about homosexuality among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who say homosexuality…
Interpreting scripture | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 47% | 46% | 3% | 5% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 69% | 26% | 4% | 2% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 84% | 12% | 2% | 2% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 61% | 24% | 7% | 8% | 424 |
Views about same-sex marriage among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who …same-sex marriage
Interpreting scripture | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 35% | 55% | 9% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 61% | 32% | 7% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 78% | 16% | 5% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 53% | 31% | 16% | 424 |
Views about environmental regulation among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who say…
Interpreting scripture | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 49% | 43% | 2% | 5% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 43% | 54% | 1% | 2% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 30% | 67% | 1% | 2% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 34% | 52% | 6% | 8% | 424 |
Views about human evolution among adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing by interpretation of scripture
% of adults who seldom or never feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing who say humans…
Interpreting scripture | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Word of God; should be taken literally | 18% | 21% | 3% | 50% | 8% | 598 |
Word of God; not everything taken literally | 32% | 30% | 3% | 32% | 4% | 958 |
Not the word of God | 73% | 12% | 3% | 10% | 2% | 3,220 |
Other/don't know | 38% | 20% | 12% | 18% | 12% | 424 |